The global sporting community is abuzz with anticipation as the Olympic Games are poised to unfurl their grandeur in Paris from July 26 to August 11. The Indian contingent, fresh off a triumphant campaign at the Asian Games in Hangzhou, is poised to continue their ascent to glory, with expectations buoyed for a lucrative medal haul. In the heart of the City of Lights, a groundbreaking ceremony at the Paris 2024 Headquarters on Thursday (February 8) witnessed the unveiling of a revolutionary medal design that is set to be a cornerstone of the event.
In a move that intertwines athletic achievement with cultural homage, the victors at the forthcoming Olympics and the Paralympics are to be awarded medals that encapsulate a fragment of France’s history. Each medal will feature a hexagonal, polished sliver of the Eiffel Tower’s own iron—ensuring that the medalists will indeed carry a piece of France with them upon their departure.
The Eiffel Tower, standing at a striking altitude of 330 meters (1,083 feet), comprises 18,038 individual iron parts. This Parisian icon has been a silent witness to two historical Games hosted by the city in the years 1900 and 1924. From this grand monument, iron pieces have been excised, specifically cut out from the girders and segments that were replaced during renovation processes, and preserved with care for occasions such as these.
Joachim Roncin, the Paris Games’ chief of design, shed light on the process, “The concept materialized after several brainstorming sessions. The Eiffel Tower is globally recognized and we pondered, ‘What if we reached out to the Eiffel Tower Operating Co. to integrate a fragment of this landmark into the medals?’ And indeed, what was once a flight of fancy has now been actualized. It’s not merely symbolic—we are embedding authentic metal from the Eiffel Tower into the medals.”
Carefully denuded of paint, these token iron portions have then been polished, varnished, and embossed with the inscription “Paris 2024” and the logo of the Games. In the same vein, each medal carries the iconic Olympic rings, while the Paralympic medals boast the depiction of the ‘Agitos’, signifying motion and symbolizing the dynamic spirit of the Paralympic Games. Notably, this initiative marks Paris as the sole host city that has integrated elements from a historic monument into their Olympic medals.
Further cementing the sentimental value of such a prize, Roncin added, “Possessing a gold medal is, in itself, an incredible feat. Yet, we wanted to endow these medals with a distinctively French flair, and what better symbol than the Eiffel Tower to serve as that special addition—a part of an important narrative.”
While the medals will arguably be the most tangible mode of recognition for stellar performances, the Olympic Games are replete with stories of triumphs and tribulations. As Indian athletes gear up to compete on this prestigious platform, the standards set at the Asian Games serve as a beacon of their prowess. Following the disappointment of the India women’s hockey team being eliminated from the race to Paris at the FIH Hockey Qualifiers, and the misleading claims about CA Bhavani Devi’s qualification circulating, India’s Olympic hopefuls are poised to chart a new course of history.
India’s sailing star Vishnu Saravanan has already stamped his presence securing an Olympic quota, heralding a fresh wind in the country’s sporting sails. His achievement stands as an emblem of hope and ambition for a nation eager to raise its profile on the international sporting stage.
As the world’s eyes turn towards Paris, every step taken by the athletes, every victory clinched, will not just be witnessed by millions, but also etched in metal imbued with the spirit of a monument that has gracefully soared into the skies for over a century. The Eiffel Tower—once a marvel of engineering, now a testament to athletic prowess—will soon find its way into the hands of those who reach the pinnacle of their sport at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
